GM’s Cruise unit cuts nine executives as safety probe continues

Reuters released a story Wednesday night reporting that General Motors’ (NYSE:) Cruise robotaxi unit has dismissed nine key people.

Reuters reports seeing a memo, which the company confirmed, stating that nine people related to GM’s autonomous taxi service have been released from the company amidst an ongoing safety investigation related to an Oct. 2 incident in which a woman was struck and dragged by a Cruise vehicle in San Francisco.

The ongoing investigation, spearheaded by law firm Quinn Emanuel, is expected to continue until January.

The recent restructuring comes after a period of unrest within the robotaxi division.

Following an accident, the unit withdrew all its vehicles from testing in the United States to undertake a safety assessment. CEO Kyle Vogt and co-founder Dan Kan stepped down in the past few weeks, and Cruise is gearing up for upcoming layoffs scheduled for this month.

“We are committed to full transparency and are focused on rebuilding trust and operating with the highest standards when it comes to safety, integrity, and accountability,” the memo said. “As a result, we believe that new leadership is necessary to achieve these goals.”

Chief Legal and Policy Officer Jeff Bleich and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs David Estrada were among those who were let go.

“The personnel decisions made today are a necessary step for Cruise to move forward as it focuses on accountability, trust and transparency,” GM said in a statement.

Shares of GM are up 5.19% in early trading on Thursday.